“We are happily pregnant with our first at age 40 (mother) and 44 (father). We are overwhelmed by all the parenting advice there is on the Internet, with so much contradicting information. How did you learn how to do the right thing and be a good parent?”

A measles outbreak in the United States in the 21st century? If someone had told me this would or even could happen I would have laughed because dreaded childhood disease had already been fought and conquered.

Yes, an old dog can learn new tricks. Let me use myself as an example. I recently celebrated a birthday and, although I have been officially geriatric for some time now, I managed to learn some new life lessons last year.

“Our son is nearly 14 months old. When he turned one, he moved out of the infant room at day care and was expected to start eating the food that the older children were served at mealtimes. But he is still eating baby food.”

“My daughter is 25. She graduated from college and is employed in a good job she likes. She has worked hard and is a great kid I am very proud of. She is very kind and thoughtful. She still doesn’t quite know who she is yet, and isn’t very confident about her attractiveness.”